Field day wasn't too thrilling here, either. Lots of mosquitoes from the
recent rains drove me out of the park after only about 3 hours. The
bands were really crummy on Saturday, too. I didn't even bother to
string up my 80 meter 1/4 wave wire, but I did try the rapid deployment
16 foot whip on the Explorer's roof rack. With that and my trusty Scout,
I was on the air in 10 minutes. At least the gear worked, but I finished
out FD from home with the Scout in the back yard or indoors running on a
gel cell. Not real Field Day, but I did get on the air a little.
My pet gripe: Computers taking over the logging, sending and CQ'ing! It
puts those of us like me who don't have a Laptop PC at a disadvantage.
Where are all those cheap laptops? I haven't seen any under $400.
Oh, well, wait 'til next year!
73,
Bob WB2VUF
MIKE BRYCE wrote:
>
> well I sure was looking forward to having a good time at this year's FD
> event. but, ended up with the FD from HELL!
>
> 1. No antennas. we were on a very, very restricted lot at a camp site. so
> only mobile antennas were allowed
>
> 2. Bands sucked.
>
> 3. Upgraded my Ten Tec Argonaut V to newest firmware the night before the
> trip. Took the radio out, hooked up everything and whoa! NO transmit..
> Drawing current, but nothing out the antenna. One very kaput Ten Tec
> Argonaut V. (yes! did the master reset several times!) Radio heading back to
> Ten Tec for repair
>
> 4. Took out back up radio. One very new Icom 703 QRP rig. Hooked up
> everything and WHOA! It won't can't change frequency with the main tuning
> knob. Messed with it, talked mean to it and at last got it to tune. Then the
> internal keyer died. Then the tuning problem came back.. Radio heading back
> to Icom for repair. ( by the way, Icom has acknowledge there is a problem
> with the internal keyer but does not offer a fix yet)
>
> 5. Overall FD results?
>
> Killed two rig, made 7 CW contacts and one SSB contact.
>
> cant' wait for next year!
>
> Mike Bryce, WB8VGE
> SunLight Energy Systems
>
> http://www.seslogic.com
> http://www.theheathkitshop.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
|